Principal/Senior Principal, Investment Strategy

What if you could help shape the infrastructure decisions that define Australia’s future?

At WSP, you can contribute to work that supports evidence-based investment decisions and delivers lasting benefits for communities.

We are seeking an experienced Principal/Senior Principal, Investment Strategy to lead business case delivery and strategic investment advice for major NSW transport and infrastructure programs. You will bring together multidisciplinary expertise, guide clients through investment and assurance decisions, and translate complex evidence into clear, defensible recommendations.

Working within our Advisory business, you will help grow our NSW investment strategy capability, build trusted client relationships and develop our people. Beyond business cases, you will apply strategic thinking, problem definition and options development to broader project and policy questions across sectors, working closely with clients and WSP’s national advisory network.

What you’ll do

Lead end-to-end business case delivery: Own strategic, preliminary and final business cases for major NSW transport and infrastructure programs, aligning delivery with NSW Treasury Business Case Guidelines (TPG24-29), Infrastructure NSW’s Infrastructure Investor Assurance Framework (IIAF) gateway requirements and Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework.

Shape investment logic and strategy: Lead problem definition, investment logic mapping (ILM) workshops, strategic options development and multi-criteria assessment (MCA). Oversee economic and financial appraisal, including cost–benefit analysis (CBA), benefit–cost ratios (BCRs) and cost estimates, integrating transport modelling, engineering, environmental, social, sustainability, property, stakeholder, risk, commercial and delivery inputs into a coherent investment case.

Apply strategic advice beyond business cases: Work closely with clients across sectors to inform project and policy investment decisions. Adapt problem definition, investment strategy, options development and MCA approaches to broader client questions, providing practical guidance where the scope or pathway is not yet defined.

Guide clients through assurance: Advise on state and national assurance requirements, plan for gateway reviews and lead assurance responses. Prepare clear executive summaries, decision papers and briefings that explain the evidence, trade-offs, risks and recommendations.

Grow client relationships and the pipeline: Build on established relationships and act as a trusted advisor to Transport for NSW, Sydney Water, Infrastructure NSW, NSW Treasury and local government. Identify opportunities early and lead pursuits from capture strategy through scope, methodology, resourcing, pricing and winning submissions.

Drive commercial and delivery performance: Manage scope, fees, programs, resources, risk, variations, contractual obligations and quality across a portfolio of advisory projects. Lead geographically dispersed multidisciplinary teams with clear accountabilities, delivering on time, on budget and to a standard that withstands assurance reviews and client scrutiny.

Lead and grow people and capability: Build and mentor a high-performing NSW advisory team, working directly with junior colleagues to develop their project experience and technical skills. Collaborate across WSP’s national advisory network, including the Queensland team, to share methods, tools and resources, and strengthen our market reputation through thought leadership and industry engagement, including IPA and CEDA.

What we’ll love about you

You will be an accomplished infrastructure advisory professional who combines technical depth with commercial judgement, established client relationships and a hands-on approach to developing people. You will be comfortable leading complex business cases and adapting your expertise to broader strategic investment questions.

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, planning, economics, finance, commerce, public policy, project management or a related discipline.

At least 15 years of relevant experience across infrastructure advisory, planning, business case development, project management, engineering, economics, commercial advisory or government infrastructure delivery.

Demonstrated experience owning strategic, preliminary and final business cases for major infrastructure programs, with a strong understanding of NSW Treasury Business Case Guidelines (TPG24-29), Infrastructure NSW’s IIAF gateway requirements and Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework.

Strong capability in problem definition, ILM facilitation, strategic options development, MCA, economic and financial appraisal, CBA, BCRs and cost estimates, with the ability to integrate multidisciplinary evidence into defensible recommendations.

The flexibility and confidence to apply investment strategy and business case concepts to broader project and policy questions across sectors, including transport, water, energy, precincts and social infrastructure.

A strong understanding of state and national assurance processes, with experience helping clients navigate gateway requirements, governance forums and assurance reviews.

Established client relationships in the NSW infrastructure market and a track record of identifying opportunities, leading pursuits and converting proposals into work.

Strong project and commercial management capability across scope, fees, program, budget, resourcing, risk, variations, quality and contractual obligations.

Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, collaborating across geographic boundaries and providing hands-on coaching and technical training to junior colleagues.

Exceptional written, verbal and facilitation skills, including the ability to lead senior client workshops, produce concise executive material and explain complex issues clearly.

The judgement to lead through ambiguity, challenge assumptions constructively and maintain objectivity in politically sensitive or fast-moving environments.

Postgraduate qualifications, relevant professional accreditation and training in investment logic mapping, benefits management, economic appraisal, project assurance or recognised project management methodologies are desirable. Experience with equivalent jurisdictional frameworks, including the Queensland Treasury Project Assessment Framework, will also be valued.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all

Join a team of respected advisors working across organisational and geographic boundaries to help clients make informed, transparent and defensible infrastructure investment decisions.

At WSP, you’ll have the opportunity to lead meaningful work, build trusted client relationships, develop the next generation of advisory professionals and contribute to the continued growth of our infrastructure advisory business.

Our employee value proposition is our commitment to providing an environment where you can belong, thrive and achieve your full potential through meaningful work.

With us, you can. Apply today.